Sweet Sopranos & Notes of Support
By Richard Mineards   |   April 8, 2025

It was an evening of decidedly high note – not to mention a few in between – when Opera Santa Barbara hosted its annual La Dolce Vita gala for 155 guests dying to be in the right aria at the Montecito Club, raising around $150,000. The gala committee was co-chaired by Karen Knight and Carol […]

Nolan’s New Role at Farmers & Merchants
By Richard Mineards   |   April 8, 2025

Farmers & Merchants Bank has named Nolan Nicholson to the newly created position as Regional Relationship Manager of the Tri-County Region encompassing Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties. Nolan, who I encounter regularly at the Santa Barbara Polo Club, is nephew of current executive chairman Daniel Walker, a former club president, and CEO […]

 

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Moving On
By Richard Mineards   |   April 8, 2025

Prince Harry has sensationally quit as patron of the African charity he started in honor of his late mother Princess Diana in 2006. The Duke of Sussex, 40, said he is “disturbed” and “in shock” to step down from Sentebale, the youth-focused organization he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, a tiny landlocked nation in […]

Storm at Large
By Richard Mineards   |   April 1, 2025

Sultry lounge singer Storm Large lived up to her billing when she sang at the Granada with the Santa Barbara Symphony, under veteran maestro Nir Kabaretti in Kurt Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins with additional vocals by the Hudson Shad Quartet. Other sensual works in the concert included Jacques Ibert’s “Divertissement,” William Grant Still’s “Seven Little […]

MBT Goes Big for 50th
By Richard Mineards   |   April 1, 2025

Montecito Bank & Trust, which is celebrating its half century, held its annual anniversary grants reception at its State Street headquarters when Janet Garufis, chairman and CEO, handed out $5,000 checks, instead of the normal $3,000, to 11 nonprofits chosen by the bank’s staff. The Jerry Parent Legacy Award went to Many Mansions, which runs […]

Normal Montecito Livin’
By Richard Mineards   |   April 1, 2025

Meghan Markle has made friends locally with “working women with normal jobs,” she tells People magazine. This comes after critics of her Netflix lifestyle show told the Duchess of Sussex she was “out of touch” and “tone deaf.” But Meghan says she and Prince Harry, who live on a $14.65 million estate in Riven Rock, […]

Singing Green and Guinness
By Richard Mineards   |   March 25, 2025

Santa Barbara Choral Society had an annual gala with a difference with Shamrock at the Rockwood over St. Patrick’s Day weekend. The sold-out bash welcomed more than 130 guests to the women’s club which had been transformed into a giant Irish-themed bar, and where they were welcomed by emcees Larry Schecter and Kathleen Stinnett before […]

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  • A Whirl of Texts and Fun
    By Richard Mineards   |   March 25, 2025

    A new comedy about texts, sex, and empty nests, Parents in Chains – written by Emmy and Peabody Award winner Jay Martel – is the latest Ensemble Theatre Company production at the New Vic. Directed by Andy Fickman, the play focuses on six Los Angeles parents dealing with communications from their teenagers driving home from […]

    New to SB Wildlife Care
    By Richard Mineards   |   March 25, 2025

    Dr. Cheryl Chooljian is the new Director of Veterinary Services for the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. She has a diverse background in veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation. She earned her BA in biology at the University of Texas in Arlington and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Louisiana State University of Veterinary […]

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    Who’s on Board?
    By Richard Mineards   |   March 25, 2025

    Jim Jackson is the new Board Chair of Santa Barbara Zoo and Ozlem Arconian, Hillary Courtemanche, Rhonda Ledson Henderson, and Jennifer Perry have joined the board. Serving as a trustee of the Ann Jackson Family Foundation for more than 25 years, Jackson brings a legacy of leadership and community commitment to his new board role. […]

    Podcasting Confessions
    By Richard Mineards   |   March 25, 2025

    Just a week after launching her new Netflix culinary series With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex is back in the podcast game. Meghan Markle has launched Confessions of a Female Founder with Lemonada Media. “I’ve been having candid comments with amazing women who have turned dreams into realities and scaled small ideas into amazingly […]

    All Aboard the Love Boat
    By Richard Mineards   |   March 18, 2025

    The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum throbbed to the Caribbean beat as 140 guests celebrated a Love Boat cruise gala with head honcho Greg Gorga in all white officer’s uniform. Condor Express owner Hiroko Benko, who created a Santa Barbara Whale Heritage Area, and Sigrid Toye, a past board president and current board member, were presented […]

    Rock for First Responders
    By Richard Mineards   |   March 18, 2025

    The venerable Granada was packed for a sold-out Rock for First Responders concert, organized by One805. Even Prince Harry turned out for the VIP reception. A guitar signed by HRH and the other performers, including Macy Gray, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald and Alan Parsons, soldfor $9,000. Toad the Wet Sprocket and Hootie & the Blowfish […]

    Friends and Fun in the Appalachia
    By Richard Mineards   |   March 18, 2025

    French violinist and former Santa Barbara Symphony concert master Gilles Apap was in his element in a CAMA Masterpiece series concert with Friends! at the Lobero Theatre. Apap played a colorful selection of works with pianist Inna Faliks featuring Fauré, Krieger, Enescu, Piazzolla and Paganini, before playing Chinese and Tibetan compositions with Xiaoli Cioffi on […]

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